Regional States of the 18th Century (Prelims)

1. Successor States (Former Mughal Provinces)

Bengal

• Founders: Murshid Quli Khan -> Alivardi Khan -> Siraj-ud-daulah.
• Key Event: Battle of Plassey (1757). Siraj-ud-daulah defeated by Robert Clive.
• Feature: Promoted agriculture and trade; neglected the threat of European companies.

Awadh

• Founder: Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk (1722).
• Successors: Safdar Jung, Asaf-ud-Daulah.
• Culture: Lucknow became a cultural hub. Development of Kathak and Lucknowi Imambarahs.

Hyderabad

• Founder: Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah (1724).
• Feature: Remained landlocked and vulnerable to Maratha raids.

2. Rebellious States

The Sikh Kingdom (Punjab)

• Resistance: Started under Banda Bahadur. Later organized into Misls (confederacies).
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1799–1839):
  • Captured Lahore (1799). Undisputed master of Punjab.
  • Modernized the army using European mercenaries.
  • Monopolised trade in salt, grain, and Kashmiri textiles.

The Maratha Confederacy

• Peshwa Hegemony: Power shifted from Satara to Poona.
• Families: Scindias (Gwalior), Holkars (Indore), Gaekwads (Baroda), Bhonsles (Nagpur).
• Mahadaji Scindia: Most formidable leader after Panipat; organized a European-style army.

3. Independent/Watan Kingdoms

Mysore

• Haidar Ali (1761): Assumptions effective power; reduced Wodeyars to figureheads.
• Tipu Sultan (1782–1799):
  • Attempted to open diplomatic/commercial ties with the Middle East.
  • Fierce resistance against the British and local Poligars.

Travancore

• Martanda Varma (1729–58):
  • Built a strong standing army and fortified the "Travancore Line."
  • Declared Royal Monopoly on pepper and other trade goods.
  • Defeated the Dutch at Battle of Colachel (1741).

Rajput States

• Sawai Jai Singh (Jaipur):
  • Founded the city of Jaipur.
  • Scientific temper: Built astronomical observatories (Jantar Mantar) at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, and Benares.

4. Key 18th Century Financial Systems

• Ijarah (Revenue Farming): The state auctioned tax collection rights to highest bidders (Ijaredars) - often bankers/mahajans.
• Bankers: Rise of powerful banking families (e.g., Jagat Seths in Bengal) who influenced state politics.

Regional States of the 18th Century

1. Successor States (Former Mughal Provinces)

Bengal

• Founders: Murshid Quli Khan (began as Diwan under Aurangzeb).
• Consolidation: Alivardi Khan (1739) deposed Murshid's family.
• Economic Features: Rise of powerful bankers (Jagat Seths). Ijarah (Revenue Farming) system introduced, auctioning tax rights to highest bidders.
• Decline: Siraj-ud-daulah defeated at Battle of Plassey (1757) due to military and strategic neglect.

Awadh

• Founder: Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk (1722). Disciplined local zamindars and maintained a well-paid army.
• Successors: Safdar Jung and Asaf-ud-Daulah.
• Culture: Transition of cultural hub from Delhi to Faizabad/Lucknow. Development of Kathak and Imambarahs (architectural synthesis).

Hyderabad

• Founder: Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah (1724).
• Position: Represented the older regional tradition. Remained nominal to Mughal authority. Declined after the death of Nizam-ul-Mulk (1748), losing coastal districts and becoming landlocked.

2. Rebellious & Independent States

Punjab (The Sikh Kingdom)

• Rise: Resistance led by Banda Bahadur. Later shifted to warrior leaders like Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (Kapurthala).
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1799–1839):
  • Captured Lahore (1799); controlled key trade routes.
  • Monopolies: Imposed state control on Salt, Grain, and Textiles (Kashmir).
  • Military: Modernized army of 40,000 using European mercenaries.

Mysore

• Haidar Ali (1761): Cavalry commander who displaced the Kalale ministers (Wodeyar dynasty).
• Tipu Sultan (1782–1799):
  • Attempted to open diplomatic/commercial ties with the Middle East.
  • Faced internal resistance from Poligars (local chiefs).

Travancore (Kerala)

• Martanda Varma (1729–58):
  • Built the "Travancore Line" fortifications.
  • Trade: Patronised Syrian Christians; declared Royal Monopoly on pepper (required license).
• Rama Varma (1758–98): Defended against Mysore.

Rajput States

• Sawai Jai Singh (Jaipur, d. 1743):
  • Permanent land revenue farming (permanent jagir assignments).
  • Economic depression in late 18th C due to crop failures and Scindia/Maratha pressure.

3. General 18th Century Features

• Mughal Symbols: Symbolic allegiance to the Mughal Emperor continued (honours, titles, administrative terminology) even in independent states.
• Ijarah System: Revenue farming became widespread as the state looked for fixed income from bankers and mahajans.
• Kamvishdars: Performance-based Brahmin bureaucrats who managed local tax/records (precursor to British District Collector model).